The legislative process in the UK

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The legislative process in the UK
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The legislative process in the UK
The Queens Speech
First reading
Second reading
Committee stage
Report stage
Third Reading
House of Lords
Royal assent
Legislative process
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Queens speech

• Govt.s legislative programme is announced at the
  start of each parliamentary session
• Queen delivers speech, written by govt.
• Time guillotine motion, fail for lack of time

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First reading

• Formal announcement that a bill will be printed
  and introduced at a certain time
• No opportunity for Commons vote (called a
  division) at this stage

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Second reading

• Key stage when MPs debate the principle of the
  bill
• Ministers lead the debate
• Division by members of the HoC

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Committee Stage

• If bill passes the division stage, allotted to
  relevant standing committee
• Minor changes made
• Significant changes rare due to built-in
  government majority in committee make-up

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Report stage

• If the committee suggests changes, the HoC has to
  approve them

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Third reading

• Bill cannot be amended
• Debates or divisions rare at this stage

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House of Lords

• Lords cannot reject a bill, unless there is
  insufficient time before a parliament is
  dissolved
• Bills often return to HoC with amendments
• Government decides whether or not to accept
  changes

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Royal assent

• Formality (Queen Anne last monarch to refuse in
  1707, Scottish Militias Bill)

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? Your task

• Discuss the following question
• What opportunities are there to influence the
  nature of a public bill?

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? Other types of Bills, p.265

• Ballot Bills
• 10 Minute Rule Bill
• Standing Order No.57
• Bill brought from the HoL

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? Your task

• Find examples of Private Members Bills look at
  Roberts, p.266 or look up the Abortion Act in the
  1960s.
• Between 1983 and 2002, over 2000 Private Members
  Bills were introduced, but only 256 were
  successful. How important are Private Members
  Bills to the legislative process? List as many
  reasons as possible why they should be retained.

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Ballot Bills

• MPs enter names into ballot
• 20 names drawn
• Designated Ballot Bills days
• Ballot Bill days always on Friday (low
  attendance, time allowance limited, only 13
  allocated Fridays)

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Ten Minute Rule Bill

• MP allowed 10 mins. to make case for new piece of
  legislation
• Opportunity for promoting constituency issues or
  policy ideas

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Standing Order No.57

• MPs allowed to introduce legislation
• Even more limited time allowance as priority
  given to other types of Private Members Bills,
  e.g. Ballot Bills

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Bills brought from HoL

• MPs introduce bills which have already been
  debated scrutinised by HoL
• Time allocation very limited (dont reach HoC
  until late in parliamentary session)